"We also had an excellent turnout of pedigree and commercial livestock for this year's event. And, obviously, we want to build on this for the future."

In the show rings it was business as usual for a number of elite cattle and sheep breeders.

The summer of 2013 just keeps getting better for Comber-based Diane Christie. The renowned Charollais enthusiast won the Sheep Inter Breed title at Newry with her eye-catching ram Made To Measure. This is the fourth time that she has carried the field with the same animal and her fifth inter breed title to date in 2013.

"He has grown out well and my plan is to use him as a stock ram. He is an excellent example of the Charollais breed," she said.

The McLean family travelled 100 miles to the Show. But the journey was worth it for the Bushmills-based cattle rearers. They won the Dairy Inter Breed Championship with Holstein 2 calver, Priestland Affirm Rachel.